Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Priyan, Aamir join hands for a film

Priyadarshan has worked with Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. The prolific director is now set to work with the third Khan - Aamir - and it will be a film on AIDS.

"I met Aamir and narrated my idea. He loved it. I now need to complete the script," said Priyadarshan.

The film on AIDS will have no songs, no comedy and no commercial trappings at all and it is likely to be produced by Aamir himself.

Priyadarshan's other Hindi film "Tezz" is on hold and the filmmaker is more than happy to go back to his roots in Kerala and start a venture with his favourite actor Mohanlal.

"So for now I'm back in Kerala writing a Malayalam film. It's a comedy with my favourite actor Mohanlal called 'The Arab Camel & Madhavan Nair' to be shot in Abu Dhabi," Priyadarshan said.

He chose Abu Dhabi as it has a large Malayalee population.

"Even the traffic cops and taxi drivers in Abu Dhabi speak Malayalam...I haven't directed a Malayalam film in seven years so I'm very excited," he added.

The comedy will also be made in Hindi.

"I haven't gone to Mumbai for three months.I was getting very uncomfortable with what was required of me in Mumbai. Now I'll return only to complete 'Tezz' and to direct the AIDS film with Aamir Khan," Priyadarshan said.

So what happened to "Tezz", the large-budget action thriller featuring Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, Sunil Shetty, Kangna Ranaut, Tusshar Kapoor and Zayed Khan?

The film is waiting for the sun to shine on its fate...quite literally. The makers are waiting for the sun to come out in Scotland where the rest of the film is to be shot.

Explained Priyadarshan: "About 40 percent of the film remains to be shot. I will complete it in one stretch in Scotland. But we cannot shoot it before summer when the sun comes out. I hope to complete and release 'Tezz' by year-end."

The only comedy that the filmmaker is committed to doing is the sequel to "Malaamal Weekly" for Percept Pictures. Entitled "Malaamal Robbery", it will be about a group of people robbing a bank only to discover it has no money.

"But no more comedies like 'De Dana Dan' for me," Priyadarshan added. 

IANS

Ash in, Vidya out of 'Satte Pe Satta' remake

It was reported that Vidya Balan was offered to play the lead in 'Satte Pe Satta' remake and lapped up the role as soon as it was offered.

However, a source reveals that it's Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who has been appoached to play Sanjay Dutt's wife in the remake and it was never Vidya.

The film is being produced by Sanjay Dutt's production house, and Sanju is very keen that Ash plays his better half in the movie. Soham Shah is all set to direct the remake of this classic, and it is heard that the writer and he will fly all the way to New Zealand to give Ash a narration.

Ash is keeping hubby Abhishek some company in New Zealand while he shoots for 'Players' there.

Ranbir refuses film with Deepika

Ayaan Mukerji keen to cast Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone in his next... 

Director Ayaan Mukerji who proved himself in his debut film 'Wake Up Sid' has woken up again and is working on the script of his second movie. News has it that the filmmaker is keen to cast Deepika Padukone opposite Ranbir Kapoor, but RK has flatly refused to work with his ex. The situation, Ranbir feels, would rather be 'awkward' especially since Deepika has gone all out and spoken boldly about their break up on chat shows on national TV and this has created some bad vibes between the two.

However, Ayan has gone on record to say that the script of the movie isn't even complete, and the actress will be decided only once that happens. Right now, he isn't sure about whom he'll cast. However, a narration to Ranbir Kapoor is on the anvil.

It can be remembered that there were talks about even Anushka Sharma being a part of this venture. Let's see which actress will make it into Ranbir's arms this time round.

Support pours in for Hangal

Three weeks after Mumbai Mirror reported on A K Hangal's deteriorating health and financial crisis (January 20, 2011), Hangal has finally found relief.

No, not healthwise. But the legendary actor is overwhelmed with love and support- mostly monetary. The actor has received a total of Rs 7 lakh approximately.

A source close to Hangal said, "Hangal has realised that all that was needed was a reminder to the industry people to come forward and offer their support."

Sure enough, recently, Karan Johar and Priyanka Chopra gave the actor Rs 1 lakh each. Farah Khan was also making discreet enquiries about Hangal's address. "I want to send him some help. I loved him as an actor," she was heard telling a friend.

Dinesh Chaturvedi, General Secretary of FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) said, "Our hearts bleeds for Hangal saab. What a fine actor he was. We gave him Rs 1 lakh."

It wasn't only Bollywood that was affected. Help arrived even from the fashion world too. AK Hangal recently "walked" the ramp in a wheelchair for fashion designer Riyaz Ganji and his summer line.

The 94-year-old actor, remembered fondly as Rahim chacha of Sholay, was brought on stage in a wheelchair, wearing a cream-coloured dhoti and a black coat. Riyaz donated Rs. 50,000 to Hangal at the end of the show.

While some chose immediate help, others offered long-term aid. The Bachchans decided to take over Hangal's medical expenses entirely. Confirming this, Hangal's 74-year old son Vijay said, "A lot of people have come forward to help us.

We also received Rs 2 lakh from the PM's office and Rs 1 lakh from the President's office. We did not expect to get so much help."

Vijay, who himself is past his prime, has spent many years as a Bollywood photographer. Though still worried about his father's dwindling health, Vijay says, "Nowadays Baba gets a sinking feeling towards the evening. His health is not really good. But we are definitely breathing free now."

Shahid, Priyanka fight on V-day

Just when we thought that they had matured, the blow-hot-blow-cold duo, Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor, has had a big fight, again.

We've stopped counting but a source close to the couple said, "What a tragedy. One of the hottest couples of Bollywood didn't spend Valentine's Day together."

Spending quality time together on Valentine's Day together apart, the couple didn't even exchange a single word.

A common friend of the couple said, "Normally, both would have woken up to mushy messages from each other. In fact, just a few days ago, their friends were teasing them about the same. Lekin aisa nahin hua."

The fight happened over a trivial issue. Adds their friend, "These two can neither live with each other, nor live without each other.'

What do they fight about, we asked? "They fight over deciding the menu in a restaurant. They also fight when either of them cannot devote time to the other.

For example, when Priyanka got excessively busy with Don 2 it led to both of them deleting each other from their social networking sites."

Their last fight was when rumour had it that Priyanka had gotten quite friendly with Ranbir Kapoor while shooting for Siddharth Anand's Anjaana Anjaani; and then when she also went ahead and signed another film opposite Ranbir during this period, Anurag Basu's Silence. Shahid they say was livid.

Repeated calls and text messages to Priyanka and Shahid did not evoke a response. Apparently, they were not in a mood to talk to anybody about their latest spat. 

No NOC, rains too…Bryan Adams Delhi concert called off

New Delhi, Feb 15 – After much flutter, organisers of the much awaited Bryan Adams concert said Tuesday that the event would not take place as scheduled in the evening because of the rains and had been postponed. The mandatory no objection certificate (NOC) from Delhi Police has also been refused. 

After a prolonged meeting with Delhi Police and Delhi fire department, the presenter of the concert, Netsurf Entertainment, announced Tuesday afternoon that the concert by the Canadian rock star had been postponed due to heavy rains and technical difficulties to a later date in the national capital.

‘We are rescheduling the concert to a later date because it will be difficult for the technical teams of both the sides, the musicians, crew and the organising committee to install complicated sound equipment at the NSIC ground because it would be wet. The police and fire department in consultation with the rock star’s team and our technicians decided against it,’ Sujit Jain, CEO of Netsurf Entertainment who has brought Bryan Adams to India, told IANS.

Jain said Adams was keen to perform in Delhi and ‘was interested in returning to the capital after his concert in Nepal’. 

‘But we are working out on the logistics of the visa and travel details. He has a busy schedule because he has two back-to-back concerts in Bangladesh and Nepal.’ 

Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said: ‘The NOC is not given to the event organisers because of security reasons.’

Adams, popular with music lovers across generations, tweeted: ‘Police have cancelled the New Delhi concert tonight due to public safety…’

Awaiting eagerly to catch the well known rock star in live performance, Delhiites had grabbed tickets for the concert slated for Tuesday evening at the NSIC exhibition grounds in south Delhi’s Okhla industrial area. Tickets in excess of the capacity of the ground had apparently been sold. 

The promoter said those who were not interested in the rescheduled concert would get full refund of the tickets. He advised them to get in touch with his company and the counters from where they had purchased the tickets.

Jain said the musician was personally very disappointed and was quite ‘downcast’ since the morning.

Naturally, fans were disappointed with the turn of events. 

Rohit Chauhan, a resident of Chandigarh, who reached Delhi early Tuesday for the concert, said: ‘I and my wife drove all the way down from Chandigarh for the concert and now we come to know that it will not happen today. I am really disappointed.’

Added Charu Singh, a Delhi-based student: ‘I cut down my pocket money to buy the Rs.2,000 ticket for the concert and now am hearing that it will not happen. I am keeping my fingers crossed! I am a big fan of his and I really really hope it happens’.

The organisers have, however, not yet announced the rescheduled date of the concert.
Adams had been hopeful about the concert going through. 

He tweeted at midnight: ‘I’m in New Delhi, waiting to hear from the police about the concert. As far as I’m concerned the show is on – we’re 100 percent here for the fans.’ 

Earlier, an officer of the Delhi Police licensing branch, which is authorised to give the NOC, said: ‘We have stopped the NOC as the local police has informed us that the event organisers have sold tickets beyond the limit.’ 

‘So the event will be difficult to manage,’ he added.

Adams, who has to his name superhits like ‘18 Till I Die’ and ‘Summer of 69′, has a large fan following in India and attracted huge crowds at his concerts at Pune and Mumbai. He is currently on a five-city tour of India that began Feb 11. 

IANS

Kelly Brook bares all for Paris-based mag Exhibition

London, Feb 5Kelly Brook has bared all for new Paris-based mag Exhibition.
The 31-year-old posed naked with her breasts and body smeared in red lipstick for a set of shocking full-frontal photos.

The 21 images – shot by snapper Ben Hasset – are said to be “feminist, industrial, and political”.
Wild-haired Brook starts off cavorting naked against a white background. By the final frame, she and the backdrop are covered in the scarlet make-up.

“This first issue is devoted entirely to lipstick shown as it is, but also in a feminist, industrial, and political sense,” the Sun quoted its publicity blurb as saying. (ANI)

Marion Cotillard in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’?

London, Feb 14 – French actress Marion Cotillard has reportedly been signed on to act in new Batman movie ‘The Dark Knight Rises’.

Cotillard, who is currently expecting her first child, will appear in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ alongside Christain Bale who returns as the caped crusader. The film also stars Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman.

According to French newspaper Le Fiagro, Marion Cotillard will join the production this summer in Los Angeles, where she will share the bill with Anne Hathaway.

The Oscar winner is said to be scaling back her future projects to focus on motherhood, reports contactmusic.com.

Le Fiagro wrote: ‘The actress, who is expecting a child in the spring with Guillaume Canet, will be scarce this year. She’ll do a single film and her choice fell on Batman 3.’

IANS

Shock and abuse: Bollywood’s new style

New Delhi, Feb 15 – Bollywood has always been about people’s cinema. And lately, so has been the language, and sometimes even the titles, of Hindi films — juicy and peppered with expletives, like we hear around us all the time.

‘Use of swear words has always been there in films. If a character is involved in a certain situation, then what’s the harm in putting them in dialogues? Although, there is indeed a certain way of using it. Moreover, using abusive words is quite common in real life too,’ said Pradeep Sarkar, who has directed films like ‘Lafangey Parindey’ and ‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag’.

Examples are not hard to come by.

‘No One Killed Jessica’ saw Rani Mukerji hurling abuses left, right and centre while playing a television journalist. ‘Peepli Live’ also had some abusive words, as did Salman Khan’s 2009 blockbuster ‘Wanted’, though the expletives were used in a humorous way.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Omkara’ saw Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan at their abusive best.

Last year, films like ‘Ishqiya’, ‘Khatta Meetha’, ‘Tere Bin Laden’ had cuss words either in dialogues or songs. While Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘Khatta Meetha’ had a song ‘Bulls***’, ‘Tere Bin Laden’ had a song called ‘Ullu da patta’. Shah Rukh Khan danced on the tunes of ‘Ishq Kamina’ with Aishwarya Rai in ‘Shakti’ in 2002.

Even the titles of films are no longer sacrosanct. ‘Kaminey’, and more recently ‘Yeh Saali Zindagi’, are a few examples.

‘The times we are living in, use of abusive words is become a common phenomena. With the landscape of cinema changing and movies getting real, filmmakers and actors are ready to take the liberty. Use of abuses is common in conversational language,’ said ‘No One Killed Jessica’ director Rajkumar Gupta.

‘Moreover, the censor board has also become open to different subjects and have become quite liberal in this case. Their way of approaching a subject has changed. They understand the sensibilities of the story presented in front of them,’ he added.

Earlier, use of abusive words was only limited to male actors. However, as the portrayal of women gets bolder, a lot of actresses are not shying away from hurling abuses.

Rani Mukerji did so in ‘No One Killed Jessica’, while Vidya Balan broke the mould with ‘Ishqiya’.

‘I was very apprehensive while using slang. I have never used them in my real life but I had to because the script demanded it. When you will see this movie, you will understand that it is justified. The movie belongs to a certain terrain where slangs are part of their lingo,’ said Vidya.

Rani also said that she was doing what her character demanded and was quite ‘comfortable’ doing so.

Kareena Kapoor also got abusive in ‘Golmaal 3′ and ‘Jab We Met’, as did Divya Dutta in ‘Delhi 6′ and Kangana Ranaut in ‘Raaz 2′. Kangana will once again be seen using such words in her upcoming film ‘Tanu Weds Manu’.

Of course, not all films have a smooth sailing. Many found themselves in legal hassles due to the liberal use of cuss words.

Journalists in Patiala recently asked the police to register a case against Rani Mukerji, other actors and the filmmaker of ‘No One Killed Jessica’ for showing them in a bad light.

In another instance, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to serve court notice on the producers and directors of ‘Peepli Live’, ‘Omkara’, ‘Gangaajal’ and ‘Bandit Queen’ for using abusive language.

The court was responding to a petition that challenged on grounds of morality the use of offensive words in these films.

‘It’s not the common man who creates such controversies. Ninety to 95 percent of such cases are created for the sake of creating it. You would not see the aam junta saying we are not ready to accept it. They rather enjoy it,’ Gupta added.

However, director Abhinav Kashyap, whose ‘Dabangg’ is sweeping the awards this year, prefers to keep it clean.

‘I wouldn’t like to comment on others, but I don’t approve of such words in my scripts. Different people have different ways of looking at things, you would never hear such words in my films,’ he said.

IANS

I love Justin Bieber: Gomez

London, Feb 15 – Singer-actress Selena Gomez admits that she loves pop star Justin Bieber but doesn’t understand why people are so interested in their relationship. 

‘I love him. He’s been in my life a very long time. He’s my friend. I think it’s awesome people are interested – I don’t understand why,’ accesshollywood.com quoted her as saying.

The ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ actress has previously claimed that she thought of Justin as a ‘brother’ and wouldn’t be able to date him.

IANS

No NOC yet for Bryan Adams’ Delhi concert

New Delhi, Feb 15 – Confusion persisted over whether the much-awaited Bryan Adams concert would take place as scheduled Tuesday evening with police yet to give a no objection certificate (NOC) due to security concerns. 

‘As far as I know, the NOC is yet to be given to the event organisers,’ Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat told IANS.

Delhiites have grabbed tickets for the concert slated for Tuesday evening at the NSIC exhibition grounds in south Delhi’s Okhla industrial area.

The spokesperson of the event’s organiser, Netsurf Entertainment, said: ‘A meeting is going on with our client. We will be able to confirm if the concert is on only after the meeting.’

The unexpected rains Monday also came as a surprise to the organisers.

The singer, however, sounded hopeful as he tweeted about the show at midnight. 

‘I’m in New Delhi, waiting to hear from the police about the concert. As far as I’m concerned the show is on – we’re 100 percent here for the fans,’ Bryan Adams said.

Earlier, an officer of the Delhi Police licensing branch, which is authorised to give the NOC, said: ‘We have stopped the NOC as the local police has informed us that the event organisers have sold tickets beyond the limit.’ 

‘So the event will be difficult to manage,’ he added.

Bryan Adams, who has to his name superhits like ‘18 Till I Die’ and ‘Summer of 69′, has a large fan following in India and attracted huge crowds at his concerts at Pune and Mumbai. He is currently on a five-city tour of India

IANS

Shia LaBeouf steps out with new girl

Los Angeles, Feb 15 Shia LaBeouf seems to have found love again. The actor was seen strolling hand in hand with a new girl recently. 

‘Her name is Karolyn Pho. She’s a stylist,’ usmagazine.com quoted an insider as saying.

LaBeouf was previously dating actress Carey Mulligan but the two split in October last year. 

IANS

‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ to take off in August

rakesh omprakash mehraFilmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s much-talked about biopic on Indian athlete Milkha Singh is to start shooting this August, reveals the director.

‘The story and screenplay of the film are over. We are in the process of auditioning, since we want a new face for the protagonist’s role. By Feb 15, I think we’ll decide and then we start shooting in August,’ Mehra told IANS.

Mehra’s last directorial venture was ‘Delhi 6′, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor.

IANS

Will direct again, but not sure when: Gulzar

Mumbai, Feb 15 – Veteran lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar, who last wielded the megaphone in 1999 for ‘Hu Tu Tu’, plans to return to direction but is not sure when.

‘I have a few subjects in mind, but they aren’t finished yet. I need to see when I want to make a film now, nothing (is) decided but I will direct,’ Gulzar told IANS.

The 74-year-old has directed critically acclaimed films like ‘Parichay’, ‘Angoor’, ‘Ijaazat’ and ‘Maachis’ among others.

IANS

I do not know the sex of my fourth baby: Victoria Beckham

New York, Feb 15Pregnant Victoria Beckham has said that she and husband David still don’t know whether they will be having a boy or a girl.

“I can go on the record and say contrary to rumors, I do not know the sex of my baby!” the New York Daily News quoted the 36-year-old as telling USA Today

The couple’s three sons – Brooklyn, 11; Romeo, 8; and Cruz, 5 – are eager for another brother, Beckham told the paper.

“We know what to do with boys,” she explained. “They’re excited about having a little brother to teach how to play soccer… But, if it’s a girl, we’d be over the moon as well.” (ANI)

Debutant directors have passion for work: Anupam Kher

Mumbai, Feb 15 – He’s done more than 400 films but still yearns to act with first-time directors. Anupam Kher says debutant filmmakers keep him alive as an actor and he would love to don the director’s hat again himself.
‘In the last five years I have launched only new directors, whether it was Dibakar Banerjee, Neeraj Pandey or Ayan Mukerjee. I love working with first-time directors,’ Kher told IANS in an interview.

‘Their passion for work is unbelievable. They know their mind. It’s not that they want to make a film because they have nothing else to do. You will see me working with lots of first-time directors. I get to learn a lot of things from them and that keeps me alive as an actor,’ he said.

Kher directed a film nine years ago, but it flopped. He is now once again ready with two scripts and looking for a financier.

‘I would love to direct a film. I am ready with two scripts. I am looking for a financier,’ said Kher, whose 2002 directorial debut ‘Om Jai Jagdish’ failed to impress critics and audiences.

The 55-year-old actor believes this is the best phase of Indian cinema and says he would continue exploring different kinds of cinema for another 25 years.

‘This is the best phase of Indian cinema. Audience is ready to see a film that doesn’t fit into a formula and I’m happy that I am still working and I will be working for another 25 years and I will still be exploring possibilities of different kinds of cinema.’

‘So this phase for a person like me, who is a trained actor from the National School of Drama, who runs an acting school…it’s a very, very exciting period,’ he said.

The Padma Shri awardee entered the world of Hindi films with a powerful performance in ‘Saaransh’ in 1984. Since then he has played the funnyman, villain and serious roles with equal elan in his nearly three-decade-long career.

But after doing diverse characters in more than 400 films, does he still believe that there are fresh roles he would like to essay?

‘If you ask me after 40 years of my career, I will still say there are hundreds of roles that I am still looking forward to do. It’s too early to answer that.’

Kher, who has played a father in umpteen films like ‘Tezaab’(1988), ‘Daddy’ (1989), ‘Dil’ (1990) and ‘Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin’ (1991), is donning daddy’s role yet again. But he promises a unique father-daughter relationship in debutant director Yogesh Mittal’s ‘Yeh Faasley’.

‘The story of this film is fantastic. I have done lots of film on father-daughter relationships like ‘Daddy’ and ‘Dil Hai Ki Manta Nehi’, but the aspects of the father-daughter relationship that ‘Ye Faasley’ has touched upon, I have never done before…,’ he claimed.

‘I don’t think the relationship between a father and daughter has been exposed like this till now. It’s very intriguing.

‘In over 400 films of my career I may have played father in almost 300 films, but this role is completely different. He is arrogant, ambitious, yet a loving person. The thing that attracted me was the script and the interpretation of the father’s role,’ Kher explained.

Debutant actor Tena Desae plays his daughter in the film releasing March 4. 

IANS

Priyanka happy for cousin’s debut with Yash Raj Films

Mumbai, Feb 15 - Actress Priyanka Chopra is very happy that her cousin Pariniti Chopra is making her debut as an actress with Yash Raj Films.

'Pariniti is my sister. Today only she has signed a film with YRF. I am very happy that YRF singned her,' Priyanka told reporters at a promotional event of her film '7 Khoon Maaf' held at JW Marriot hotel Monday.

Pariniti has been signed for the film 'Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl' where actor Ranveer Singh and actress Anushka Sharma are yet again sharing the screen space after their recent hit 'Band Baaja Baaraat' under the same banner.

Based on the story developed by producer Aditya Chopra 'Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl' is a romantic comedy where a charming conman Ricky Bahl cons girls for a living, but finally meets his match.

The film is set to go on floor early April with plans to hit theatres worldwide Dec 9 this year.

Pariniti works with YRF in their marketing department and she did PR for her film 'Pyaar Impossible' too, reveals Priyanka.

'She works with YRF's marketing department. In fact, she worked as PR for my film with YRF,' said Priyanka.

Asked what tips she would like to give to her sister, she quipped, 'I would call her and say that.'

IANS

Sofia Vergara was nick-named ‘toothpick’ over her stick-thin figure as child

London, Feb 15 – Columbian actress Sofia Vergara has revealed that she was once teased for her stick-thin figure.
The ‘Modern Family’ actress – who flaunts her curves on the latest cover of America’s Shape magazine – says her brothers even nick-named her ‘toothpick’ when she was growing up in Colombia.

“I was ridiculously skinny. They called me palillo, which means toothpick in Spanish,” the Daily Mail quoted her as saying.
But she quickly lost her nickname when she became a teenager, says the actress.

“I was still skinny, but suddenly I had these big boobs,” Vergara said.

“It was terrible! I used to tell my mother: ‘I’m going to cut these off as soon as I turn 18′,” she said.

On the contrary to that, now the actress says she loves being celebrated for her figure.
“To be called the sexiest woman in Hollywood, at my age? It’s fantastic,” Vergara added.
The actress also reveals how she maintains her curves – by eating cake every day and allowing herself to put on up to 5lbs when she is on vacation. (ANI)

Rahat freed, but asked to stay in India pending probe

New Delhi, Feb 14 - A day after Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was detained at the Delhi airport on charges of carrying undisclosed foreign currency of over $100,000, he was freed Monday, but has been asked to stay in the country pending a probe into the source of the money.

Rahat, along with two of his colleagues Maroof and event manager Chitresh Shirivastava, has been asked to appear before the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DIR) Feb 17, informed sources said.

The three were asked by the DRI to surrender their passports and appear again for questioning in three days.

Rahat was released after an assurance by the Pakistan high commission that he will cooperate with the probe, the sources added. He has been told not to leave the country.

'We are only questioning him. We will be shortly taking a decision,' Vijaylakshmi Sharma, director-general of the DRI, told reporters when asked about the outcome of the interrogation.

Rahat was detained at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport Sunday on his way back to Pakistan after attending concerts and award functions in India.

'The DRI officers found altogether $124,000, which is equivalent to about Rs.60 lakh. $24,000 were found from the baggage carried by Rahat while the remaining $50,000 each were found from the baggage of two troupe members,' Central Board of Excise and Customs chairman S. Dutt Majumdar said.

Majumadar added that there were 'clear violations of excise laws' and the currency carried by them was 'much above' the allowed limit.

According to norms, no one can carry beyond $5,000 in cash and $5,000 in other instruments. The person has to declare to the Customs Department if he is carrying more than this amount.

Islamabad started working up diplomatic channels to free Rahat Ali after he was detained Sunday night.

Government sources in New Delhi Monday said India's external affairs ministry has been in touch with Pakistan's Foreign Office over the issue.

Three officials from Pakistan's high commission in New Delhi came to zonal headquarters of the DRI where the singer was interrogated, but left after about 30 minutes, the sources said.

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir called India's High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal in Islamabad and discussed the matter around midnight Sunday. He requested the Indian envoy to ensure that 'no official should misbehave with Rahat during interrogation'.

Bashir also called up Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik and directed him to 'take immediate steps for securing release of Rahat'.

'The matter should be taken up formally with the Indian foreign office,' he said, adding that 'contact with Indian authorities for updates in the case must be maintained throughout'.

Malik spoke with Vivek Katju, Secretary (West) in India's external affairs ministry, insisting that the protective custody of the singer be lifted, Pakistan's state-run APP news agency quoted a statement from the Pakistan Foreign Office as saying.

Earlier, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik called Shahid Malik and directed him 'to provide necessary legal and other consular help to Rahat'.

Rahat's brother-in-law, Asim Raza, told Dunya TV that they 'received information from the media and were feeling concerned about it'. 'We are yet to establish any proper contact with the authorities in India although Rahat talked briefly with his wife and asked her to remain hopeful of a positive outcome'.

Rahat, the nephew of legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is popular both in India and Pakistan. Several of his hit songs from Indian films are a rage on both sides of the border, for which he has won several awards, including the recent Filmfare award for 'Dil to Bacha Hai Ji'.

IANS

Rihanna sued by famed fashion photog over ‘copycat’ S and M video

London, Feb 15Rihanna has reportedly been sued by prominent U.S. fashion photographer David LaChapelle over her video for new single S and M.

LaChapelle, who has shot celebrities for magazines such as Rolling Stone, GQ and Vanity Fair, said “the music video is directly derived from and substantially similar to the LaChapelle works,” reports the Daily Mail.

Rihanna has sold over 25 million albums worldwide and dominated music charts in the U.S. with singles such as ‘Umbrella’ and ‘What’s my name’. 

The single ‘S and M’, however, has fizzled on the charts, and the video has been banned in some countries for its sexual content.

In the suit, the photographer said the singer had appropriated eight of his images into the video, such as a shot where she is shown in profile against a blue background with a piece of candy on her tongue.

LaChapelle said her video copied the “composition, total concept, feel, tone, mood, theme, colours, props, settings, decors, wardrobe and lighting” of his work.

He is suing for unspecified damages. 

A source at LaChapelle’s studio told celebrity website Radar Online that initially fans thought the photographer had directed the video.

“Interns told us that fans were buzzing about the video and wanting to know if David had directed it. Then the phone in the office started ringing off the hook, everyone was like ‘wow it’s amazing – it’s the exact same,”‘ the source said. (ANI)


Eco-wildlife film fest opens in Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 14 – The capital renewed its commitment to the environment Monday with the inauguration of the Wildscreen Festival, the Indian and Sri Lankan avatar of the world’s largest environmental and wildlife festival, at the British Council here. 

The festival was inaugurated by actor Kunal Kapoor. 

The two-day festival, which will also visit Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Colombo, will screen six movies, including the BBC Life Series. It opened with the screening of ‘Can We Save The Planet Earth’, a 2006 movie (featuring two documentaries) presented by Sir David Attenborough.
The screenings will be accompanied by seminars that will will focus on ‘Trends in wildlife & environmental filmmaking’, ‘The Magic Art of Storytelling’, ‘Managing a Production’ and ‘The Ten Rules of TV’. 

The movies to be screened over the next two days include ‘Extreme Ice’, on glacier melts from US directed by Noel Dockstader; ‘The Man Who Stopped the Desert’, a West African tale of greening the desert by Mark Dodd from Britain; and ‘The Wild Meat Trail’, an account of wild meat hunting and eating in northeast India directed by Rita Banerji and Shilpi Sharma.
Other films include ‘North-Eastern Diaries: Seeking Wildlife in the Eastern Himalayas’ from India by Sandesh Kadur, ‘How Earth Made Us: Human Planet’ from Britain by Matthew Dyas, ‘Wild: The Coral Gardener’ from Britain by Emma Robens, ‘Green’ from France by Patrick Rouxel and the BBC Life series on environment. 

Chief executive of Wildscreen Festival, Richard Edwards, said he was delighted to return to India and Sri Lanka again this year to further the relationship with local audiences and filmmakers. 

‘India and Sri Lanka are key destinations for Wildscreen’s outreach programme because of the region’s rich filmmaking heritage, and because like many other areas of the world, the natural environment is under threat from rapid economic development and climate change,’ Edwards said.

The Wildscreen Festival was founded by Peter Scott in 1982 and has been organised every alternate year for the past 25 years. 

It is the world’s largest and most prestigious wildlife and environmental film festival. 

Held in Bristol, known as the world’s biggest centre for wildlife filmmaking, the festival attracts hundreds of delegates from around the globe who work in film, television and the press, as well as those actively involved in working to conserve the environment.

Rob Lynes, director of British Council in India, said: ‘The British Council actively engages with environmental filmmakers as they play an important role to shape public opinion on key issues like climate change.’

‘In this context, Wildscreen plays an important role in helping us reach out to budding and young environmental filmmakers and enabling them to produce visually powerful and inspiring films,’ Lynes said. 

IANS

Akshay Kumar in balancing act

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar might be working on one film after another, but the actor knows how to manage his personal and professional life.

‘I take one month off every year. Every three months I take seven-eight days off and I don’t work on Saturdays and Sundays. So many things I do to manage my personal and professional life and I’ve been able to manage that well and strike a balance,’ the 43-year-old told IANS.

Akshay is currently working on six films, including ‘Thank You’, ‘Desi Boyz’, ‘Joker’, ‘Housefull 2′ and the sequel of ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai’.

Ronaldo’s girlfriend is 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover girl

Melbourne, Feb 15 – Russian supermodel Irina Shayk, girlfriend of soccer ace Cristiano Ronaldo, is this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover girl. 

Shayk was to be officially announced covergirl on tonight’s ‘Late Show With David Letterman’ but the news was leaked on Twitter just hours ago, reports News.com.au.

New Yorker Rana Wardlaw took a photo of a billboard featuring the cover outside her office and then tweeted.
“I saw it from my office window,” Wardlaw said.

“I work at a media agency called Starcom Worldwide. They unveiled the billboard for a few minutes to tape it for the Letterman Show and then covered it back up. I guess they didn’t cover it fast enough!”

Shayk beat heavy favourite Brooklyn Decker to the coveted covergirl spot. (ANI)

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